State of the Lists - What I'm Thinking and Doing With Skorne

Hello Again!

I can't make any promises that I'll actually start blogging consistently, as I really don't play all that often.  I've played about 6 games this year, including the 3 I played at the tournament in my last post.  That said, I've been thinking about list building a lot lately, and this seems like as good a place as any to try to organize my thoughts.

I'm thinking about lists mainly in terms of themes.  I can play 3 of our themes, because I only own one unit of Immortals and very few minions.  That may change, but until it does, I'll just focus on the themes I can play: Imperial Warhost, Masters of War, and Winds of Death.



Imperial Warhost

I like both our Warbeasts and the Siege Animantrax a lot, so Imperial Warhost is easily the most compelling theme for me despite being the most restrictive in terms of model selection.  It's just the theme I want to build in the most.

Lord Arbiter Hexeris (*27pts)
*Mammoth (38pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Cyclops Brute (8pts)
*Cyclops Shaman (8pts)
*Basilisk Krea (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)

Siege Animantrax (17pts)
Bog Trog Mist Speaker (4pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)

I'm interested in this as an all-comers list, but I'm concerned that there's not enough heavy threat removal to really get the Mammoth and Animantrax to shine.  There's a whole lot of flexibility in terms of channeling spells, and perhaps the lights and Archidons can do a sufficient job setting the Mammoth up to rule the table.  If not, fudging some points around to fit in a real heavy seems very doable, but at the cost of some of my flexibility.

Lord Tyrant Zaadesh (*28pts)
*Bronzeback Titan (18pts)
*Titan Gladiator (15pts)
*Titan Sentry (15pts)
*Titan Sentry (15pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Basilisk Krea (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)

Siege Animantrax (17pts)
Bog Trog Mist Speaker (4pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (2pts)

This is very similar to the list I ran at Renegade last year, although I think the Mist Speaker has a lot more synergy with Zaadesh than the Willbreaker did.  I could fudge some points around to change the beast lineup, but I'm pretty happy with how this has done in the past.  This is probably the strongest list I'm considering for Imperial Warhost: Zaadesh 2 is probably one of our top 3 'casters and the pieces all work pretty well together here.

Primus Jalaam (*28pts)
*Titan Cannoneer (17pts)
*Titan Cannoneer (17pts)
*Aradus Soldier (16pts)
*Aradus Soldier (16pts)
*Titan Gladiator (15pts)
*Cyclops Shaman (8pts)
*Basilisk Krea (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)

Bog Trog Mist Speaker (4pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)

This is probably the list I'm most excited to run.  It has a solid array of ranged weapons, the main purpose of which is to get into melee with the bugs!  If you read my last battle report, you may remember that I said Tom W sold me on the Soldier, and I'm going to give them a shot.  I can threaten a good 13" with any piece in this list, and can hand out plenty of Rush to make sure it happens.  On top of that, I've got some real solid shooting, and the ability to trade well with 5 heavies who can all pull their weight (literally in the case of the Aradi - ho ho ho) in melee.  The Fury management also looks solid at first glance, which is nice given how much Fury I'll be generating with my ranged element.

Archdomina Makeda (*29pts)
*Mammoth (38pts)
*Molik Karn (19pts)
*Titan Gladiator (15pts)
*Cyclops Shaman (8pts)
*Basilisk Krea (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)
*Agonizer (0pts)

Siege Animantrax (17pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)


Lormahordes user Slaughtersun shared a similar list that was run by a Portuguese WTC player last year in this thread, and I knew I had to try my own version.  I'd had a lot of fun with a Mak 1 Masters of War list that worked well, but I also like my Mordikaar list a lot, and it's cool to try new things with a 'caster, especially when it's been proven successful.  I'm not saying I'll achieve anything like the same results as a WTC player, but this list sure looks fun to try.

Masters of War

I like this theme, and appreciate all the tools it can bring to the table.  Even though my first thought is often "needs moar beast," I've had a lot of fun playing Masters of War with several 'casters.  Right now, I'm thinking about Mordikaar and Makeda 2 while I experiment with Mak 1in Imperial Warhost.

Void Seer Mordikaar (*29pts)
*Despoiler (19pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Cyclops Savage (7pts)
*Basilisk Krea (7pts)

Tyrant Rhadiem (9pts)
Mortitheurge Willbreaker (4pts)

Praetorian Ferox (Leader and 4 Grunts) (20pts)
Praetorian Swordsmen (Leader and 9 Grunts) (13pts)
*Command Attachment (Officer and Standard Bearer) (0pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)
Tyrant Commander and Standard Bearer (0tps)

This is the exact list I ran at the tournament, and I like it a lot.  I'm open to fudging around with the Warbeast lineup, since I'm not sure this is the most efficient list I can run, but I really like the core of the list - the Swordsmen and Ferox - as is.  In particular, I'm looking to add another combat heavy without sacrificing too much defense on Mordikaar.  Maybe I can pull it off just by playing him back.  This list is super fun to play, and has both a solid attrition grind and super janky shenanigans.  I'd highly recommend giving it a shot.

Supreme Archdomina Makeda (*27pts)
*Molik Karn (19pts)
*Titan Gladiator (15pts)
*Basilisk Krea (7pts)

Tyrant Rhadiem (9pts)
Mortitheurge Willbreaker (4pts)

Praetorian Ferox (Leader and 4 Grunts) (20pts)
Praetorian Swordsmen (Leader and 9 Grunts) (13pts)
*Command Attachment (Officer and Standard Bearer) (0pts)
Legends of Halaak (Valgesh, Cidaar, & J'Deth) (8pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (2pts)
Tyrant Commander and Standard Bearer (0pts)

I won't lie, the composition of this list is real similar to Mordikaar, but I expect it to play very differently.  Makeda 2 has a whole different toolset to bring to bear.  I also love the Legends of Halaak, and I'm excited to try them again in this format.  I know it's popular to go double kitties with Makeda 2, but I think the Swordsmen are super compelling with her as well, and the Legends are always fun as I said.

Winds of Death

For whatever reason, I have the most trouble coming up with lists I like in Winds of Death.  Maybe I just haven't played enough.  It certainly has a lot of our fun units.  Maybe I just need to buckle down and make myself play it.  Here are the lists I'm thinking for this theme right now.

Lord Assassin Morghoul (*29pts)
*Titan Gladiator (15pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Archidon (10pts)
*Aptimus Marketh (0pts)

Siege Animantrax (17pts)

Wrong Eye and Snapjaw (17pts)
Venator Dakar (4pts)
Mortitheurge Willbreaker (0pts)
Extoller Soulward (3pts)

Venator Slingers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (13pts)
Venator Catapult Crew (Gunner and 2 Grunts) (5pts)
Venator Catapult Crew (Gunner and 2 Grunts) (5pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)

I like Morghoul 2 a lot in theory, but I have yet to actually try him on the table.  I want to play him in Disciples of Agony, but Winds of Death is the theme I have more models for.  I don't own the catapults yet, but I have a line on a few, and anyway I do want to try them out before buying them.  They hit Def 10 a decent amount of the time just by aiming.  Give them access to Mortality and Blind, and they can really get some work done.  At least, that's the hope.  We'll see how this shakes out.

Dominar Rasheth (*28pts)
*Titan Cannoneer (17pts)
*Titan Cannoneer (17pts)
*Aradus Sentinel (16pts)
*Aptimus Marketh (0pts)

Siege Animantrax (17pts)

Venator Dakar (0pts)
Extoller Soulward (3pts)

Venator Slingers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (13pts)
Venator Reivers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (9pts)
*Command Attachment (Officer and Standard Bearer) (4pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)

I feel like I have to start playing Rasheth at some point, since he's the best 'caster in Skorne.  I don't have the model yet, but I probably will soon.  This is a list I'm going to try out a couple iterations of in Winds of Death, but I have some ideas for Rasheth in Imperial Warhost as well.  Despite the fact that I've never played Rasheth, I am pretty excited to be trying him out soon.  I know there's a "the Rasheth list" out there that uses 2 turtles among other things.  I'll look it up after a couple games with this.


That's it for now.  I'm still getting my thoughts together for the near future.  There's another tournament coming up soon.  I might not be free, but if I am, I'll try to make it.  I'm not sure which of these lists I'll run.  Probably Mordikaar and Jalaam, if I can magnetize my bugs before then.  I want to give each of these lists a try or two, with the vague idea of picking three to practice exclusively for the Renegade Open (although if the Supreme Guardian is released before then, all bets may be off).  It all depends on how my schedule shakes out for the rest of the year.